Sheet trimming device



April 13, 1943. R. A. WILLIAMS ISHEET TRIMMING DEVICE s sheets-sheet 1 Filed De'c. 29, 1941 Apri1131943. R, A, mums 2,316,205

SHEET TRIMMING DEVCE Filed Dec. 29, 1941 s sheets-sheet 2 fao @5e @M207 Mlm-@72S 37 Jag April 13, 1943- R. A. WILLIAMS ISHEET TRIMMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 29, 1941 .3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I lII.

Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET TRIMMING DEVICE Robert Alonzo Williams, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of West Virginia Application December 29, 1941, Serial No. 424,745

(Cl. 16fi 73) 1?. Claims.

a preferred embodiment of my invention and is particularlywell adapted for trimming the edges `from a plurality of 4transversely slitted sheets in order to form a number of strips. In certain types of accounting and bookkeeping systems entries are made on a plurality of strips which are connected together at their ends by integral sheetportions, but which are separated by slitting 'at their intermediate portions. All of the strips on one sheetcan thereby be handled as a unit,

and a pluralityof sheets may be stacked together with the corresponding entries on the various strips positioned directly over the corresponding entries and` strips of the other sheets. By the single operation of trimming the edges from the whole stack of sheets, all strips bearing entries of one type will be separated from all strips bearing entries .of-another type, and the different groups of strips may then be handled as a unit. This series of operations is often times used when the entries from a particular group of strips are to be duplicated by means oi a duplicating machine. The trimming device herein shown and described howeveris equally well adapted for the trimming of ordinary sheets, irrespective of the use to which they are later put.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide means for holding the different sheets in a predetermined stacked relationship with their edges exposed for'trimming. This eliminates the necessity vof holding the sheets by hand, and the danger of cutting the operators iingers. Furthermore my invention contemplates the provision of cutting wheels ratherthan the pivoted knives which are often used in trimming devices v.of this sort. This further eliminates any danger .groups of strips in alignment during and after the trimming operation and preparatory to the removal of the strips from the trimming device. Improved means are also provided for the removal of each group of I strips `from the 4device without disturbing the arrangement of the group,

lor without destroying their prearranged order.

-Various other objects, features and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in" which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan View oi a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the block and pin arrangementv which holds the several groups of strips;

Fig. '7 isa detailed section taken along lines 'I 'I of Fig. 8 and of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a Ydetailed section taken along line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the block and pin arrangement shown in Fig. 6, also showing the application thereto of a spring clip whereby holding of the several groups `of strips may be facilitated.

Fig. 10 is an end View of the parts shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a section taken along line Il II 4of Fig. 3.

Reference numeral I2 designates` a sheet receiving base, which may be a block of wood of the desired size. The base is mounted on two U-shaped brackets I3' and I4 which extend longitudinally thereof, the outer and downwardly extending ends of which form the feet I5 and I8 upon which the device rests. The central portion ci the brackets I3 and I4 comprises channel `members I I and I 8 which are so disposed that -2I is similarly shaped.

each of said strips at their extended portion, each of the pins projecting outwardly. Blocks 25 and 26 are suitably secured to the brackets I3 and I4 at the rear portions thereof, as shown in Figs. 2v

and 7. Block 26 is provided with a bore 21 and an intersecting slot 28, the pin 24 extending into the slot, and a spring 29 being disposed in the bore 21 to urge the pin and the upper clamping board downwardly. The block 25 is provided with similar means for receiving another pin 24 so that it will be seen that the hinge mounting of the upper clamping board I9 is effected by the co-V operation of the pins 24 with the blocks 25 and 29.V The block 26 is provided with a cap 39 which is secured thereto by suitable screws 32 in order to conne the spring 29 in the bore 21. A similar cap 3| is shown for the block 25, which is secured thereto by screws 33.

The oating hinge arrangement herein shown "and described permits the upper clampingV board -I9 to be vdisposed in parallel relationship to the base I2 when in operative position irrespective of the thickness of the stack of sheets. The spring 29 also serves to maintain the upper clamping 'boardin upright position as shown in Fig. 2 by virtue of the over-center action resulting when the flat spot 34 at the rear end of the strip 22 engages the bracket I4. The rear end of the strip The base I2 is provided with a channel 35 formed in its upper surface along its left edge, 4and with a channel 36 formed in its upper surface 4along its right edge. As shown in Fig. 4, blocks 31,38 and 39 are disposed in end to end relationship in the channel35. In channel 35 is disposed a block ,49. Each of the blocks 31, 38 and 39 is provided with a plurality of pins 4I which extend `above the surface of the base I2, these pins being provided with annular grooves 43 as shown in Fig. 4. Similarly block 49, which in length is equal to the length of all three of the blocks 31, 33 and 39, is provided with a corresponding number of pins 42. Both sets of pins, 4I and 42 are preferably equally spaced from each other, and the corresponding pins of one set are directly opposite to the corresponding pins of the other set.

As shown in Fig. `4, the channel 35 is also provided with'hlocks. 44 which merely serve to ll up the channel. Similar ll blocks 44 are provided for ,channel 36, and these blocks are provided with pins 45 by means of which they may be secured to the base I2. Y.

Grooves'41 and 43 are provided in the upper Qclamping board I9 in order to receive the upper portion of the'pins 4I and 42 when the upper clamping board is in its operative position. One

' vwall of the grooves 41 and 46 is formed by the Istrips 2| and V22, and one wall of thechannels 35 `and 36 may similarly be formed by the strips of metal 49 and 50 as shown in Fig. 5. These strips 49and 59 may be suitably secured to the `base I2 by means of screws 52. As shown in Fig. 7,

the rear edge ofthe base I2 may be protected at its `right-hand Yportion by an end plate 53, secured thereto by screws 54, against which the end .portion ofthe strip 22 may abut when the upper with perforations 99 just'inwardly from the edge portions 99. The strips of the dilerent sheets are held one over the other by means of the pins 4I and 42 which extend through the perforations 99. After the edge portions 93 have been trimmed from the sheets, six groups of strips may beremoved at one time from the trimming device by removing one of the blocks 31, 33 or 39. Removal may be facilitated by means of a clip 94 which can engage the pins 4I inthe grooved portions 43 thereof.

The trimming or cutting means is mounted upon a carriage which is designated generally by the reference numeral 55. The carriage comprises a cross member 56 which is in the form of a channel open at the bottom and which serves as a housing. Plates 51 and 5B are secured to the housing 56 at a point inwardly of the ends of the housing, these plates being provided with lugs which extend upwardly adjacent the channels I1 and i8. A pair of rollers 59 is carried by the plate 51, and a corresponding pair of rollers 60 is carried by the plate 58, these rollers fitting into the channel portions I1 and I8 of the mounting brackets I3 and I4. As shown in Fig. 7, the roller 66 rides upon the lower member 6l of the channel I8, and slightly clears the upper member 62 of the channel. Each roller may be mounted in its respective plate by means of a pin 63, and the roller may also be provided with a flange 64 which serves to maintain the parts in spaced relationship, this arrangement being shown in Fig. 7. Each of the plates 51 and 58 may be rigidly secured to the housing 56 by means of screws 65 as shown in Fig. 3. It VVwill thus be seen that the housing and the carriage as a whole which is mounted on the housing may freely slide longitudinally of the base I2 by virtue of the channel and roller arrangement.

Mounted on the carriage are upper 'cutting wheels 61 and 63 Aand lower cooperating cutting wheels 69 and 19. The upper cutting wheels may vbe serrated at their cutting edge as shown in the shafts 14 and 16.

A shaft 8l is disposed in the housing 56 and at its 'right-hand end is provided with al crank s2, the shaft being journalled in the 1ower poitions of the plates 1I and 12. The shaft 8l Vhas pinned to it pinions 83 and 84 at either endV thereof, which engage idler gears 85 and 66, as shown in Fig. 3, the idlers in turn meshing with the pinions 19 and 80. It will be seen therefore that as the crank 82 is turned, the cutting wheels will be driven.

On the upper surface of the housing 56 ,is mounted a bearing plate 81and a shaft 88 is journalled therein.r A pinion 89 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 88, and is held in spaced relationship from the bearing blockV by means of a collar 99. A rack 9| is secured to the underside of the base I2, and is engaged by the pinion 89 so that as the pinion is caused to rotate, the carriage will be caused to slide longitudinally of the base.

forV the travel of the carriage.

gar 93 carried ony the shaft 8|. As the crank 82 'is rotated, it' will cause the carriage to ride back- Wardly or forwardly and at thesame time drive the cutting wheels which will serve to trim the marginal portions 9B from the stack of sheets 96. It will be noted that the side edges of the upper clamping board are offset inwardly from the side edges of the base I2, and that the lower cutting wheels *'59` and 10 are provided with a plane surface which permits the cutting edge to be disposed very closely adjacent the base. The

upper cutting wheels61 and 68 are also provided with a plane surface so that the `upper and lower cutting wheels may overlap each other to an "extent equal to the maximum thickness of the lstack of sheets which are to be cut. The extra space provided by the offsetting of the edges of in `order to provide more efllcient cutting action. By the arrangement herein shown I` secure a positive drive for both the cutting wheels and The rack and therollers upon which the carriage is mounted are disposed below the base where they can not be damaged, and will not interfere with the rais ingand lowering of the upper clamping board.

The gearing by means of which the cutting wheels are driven is enclosed in the housings IDI and |02 shown in Figs. 3 and 11, these housings being suitably secured to the plates 1l and 12. It will be seen therefore that all the moving parts, with the exception of the cutting wheels, Vare enclosed, and such parts may be lubricated without any danger of smearing the sheets whichl are to be trimmed,'or the operators hands.

In operation thev carriage 55 is moved, by'turning the crank, to the rear end of the machine,

and the upper clamping board is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 2. A stack of sheets 96 is placed on the base, perforations 99 being fitted over the two series of pins 4I and 42. The upper clamping board is then brought down into operative position, in which it is disposed parallel to the base, and makes full contact with the stack of sheets 96. The crank 82 is then turned which causes the carriage to be advanced forwardly, and the cutting wheels te trim off the marginal edge portions 9B of the stack of sheets, which edge portions extend outwardly beyond the base at either edge thereof. When the carriage 55 has reached the limit of its travel, the stack of sheets will have been separatedv into a plurality of groups of strips. These groups may beremoved six at a time, after the upper clamping board has been elevated into its upright position, by means of removing the blocks 31, 38 and 39 one at a time. The clip 94 can be used to facilitate this removal. It will be observed that the length of the clip is approximately equal to the length of Vthe block 31, and that the clip may be shifted longitudinally of the block step by step so as to expose one pin at a time. This permits the removal of one group of strips at a time as shown in Fig. 9, but prevents any of the other groups of strips from becoming disengaged' from their respective pins.

While the form and arrangement of parts as above described are preferred, the invention is not to be limited to the arrangement shown except so far as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes might well be made in the construction and arrangement of the Parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A sheet trimming device comprising asheet receiving base, sheet clamping means mounted on the upper surface of said b-ase, a carriage slidably mounted on the underside of said base, two pairs of rotatable cutting wheels mounted on said `carriage in a position to trim the extendededges of a stack of sheets clamped on said base without interfering with the operation of said clamping means, and a common drive shaft disposed in said carriage for rotating both of said pairs of cutting wheels. Y

2. A sheet trimming devicey comprising a. sheet receiving ybase, a carriage slidably mounted on the underside of said base, said carriage including vertically disposed end members extending upwardly beyond the upper surface of said base and in juxtaposition to the side edges: thereof, a pair of rotatable cutting Wheels journaled one above the other in each of said end members in a position to trim both of the extended side edges of a stack of sheets positioned on said base, and means to cause said cutting Wheels to be rotated and said carriage to move along said base.

3. A sheet trimming device comprising a sheet trimming base, clamping means Yhinged toV said base and cooperating with the upper surface thereof to hold the sheets in such a manner that theiredges extend beyond the side edges of said base and said clamping means, a carriage mounted on the underside of said base and provided with cutting wheels disposed in a position to engage said extended sheet edges, and means to'cause said carriage to travel from` one end of said base to the other as said cutting wheels are rotated.

4. A sheet trimming device comprising a sheet receiving ybase, brackets upon which said base is mounted, the central portions of said brackets comprising channels, a housing positioned beneath said base. rollers associated with said housing anddisposed in said channelso as to permit said housing to be moved longitudinally of said base, a pair of cutting wheels carried on said housing and disposed so that their bight is immediately adjacent the side edge of said base, a drive shaft for said cutting wheels disposed within said housing, and means associated` with said drive shaft and engaging said base for causing longitudinal displacement of said housing and said cutting wheels.

5. A sheet trimming device comprising a sheet receiving base, brackets upon which said base is mounted, the central portions of said brackets comprising channels, a housing positioned beneath said base, rollers associated with said hous ing and disposed in said channel so as to permit said housing to be moved longitudinally of said base, vertical members at the ends of said housing extending upwardly beyond the top surface of said base, cutter Wheels journalled in said vertical members, a shaft disposed within said housing and journalled in said vertical members, a rack secured to said base, a cooperating pinion associated with said housing and adapted to engage said rack, a crank for rotating said shaft, and means for driving said pinion and said cutter wheels from said shaft.

6. A sheet trimming device comprising a trimming board, clamping means pivotally mounted on the upper surface of said trimming board, a carriage slidably mounted with respect to said board and disposed beneath the same, upper and lower cutting wheels mounted on said carriage in such a position as to trim the extended edges of a. stack of sheets clamped on said board, said lower cutting wheel having a plane surface dis--V posed closely adjacent the side edge of said board and the periphery of one of said cutting wheels being serrated.

7. `A sheet trimming device comprising a sheet ltrimming board, clamping means: mounted on the upper surface of said trimming board and cooperating therewith to hold the sheets in such a manner that their edges extend beyond the side edges of said sheet trimming base and said clamping means, a carriage slidably mounted on the underside of said board, upper and lower cutting wheels mounted on said carriage in such a position as to trim said extended edges, said lower cutting wheel having a plane surface disposed closely adjacent the side edge of said board and said `upper cutting wheel having a plane surface overpins and their associated block. from said sheet receiving b-ase.

9. A sheet trimming device comprising a sheet receiving base, a channel formed in the upper surface and at one edge thereof, a removable block disposed in said channel, a plurality of pins embedded in said removable block, said pins being formed With annular grooves near the ends thereof whereby said pins may be positively engaged by a spring clip in order to remove the pins and ,their associated block from said sheet receiving base, and cutting wheels slidably and rotatably mounted with respect to said base adjacent to said channel so as to engage the marginal edges of a stack of sheets held on said base by said pins.

'10. In combination `with a sheet trimming device, a sheet receiving base having ,a channel formed therein, a block provided with a plurality of pins disposed in said channeled base, each of said pins being adapted to hold a group of perforated strips, and each being provided With an annular groove, and a clip constructed so as to slidably engage said pins in said grooved portions to facilitate handling of the assembly, and to prevent disengagement of said strips from said pins.

v11. In a device for trimming the edges from a stack of sheets, each sheet being made up of strips connected together at their ends by-integral f sheet portions and being separated at their intermediate porticns by slits, a base adapted to receive a stack of sheets with the edge portions of each extending laterally beyond the edge of said base, clamping means for said stack of sheets pivotally mounted on said base, rotatablecutting means including a carriage associated with said base at the underside thereof and adapted to slide longitudinally thereof and to trim said edges, said rotatable cutting means comprising an upper and a lower wheel, the peripheries of Vwhich overlap each other by a distance equal at least to the thickness of said stack of sheets.

l2. In a device yfor trimming the edges from a stack of sheets, each sheet being made up of strips connected together `at their ends by integral sheet portions and being separated at their intermediate portions by slits, a base adapted to receive a stack of sheets with the edge portions of each extending laterally beyond the edge of said base, clamping means for said stack mounted on said base, a carriage including rotatable cutting means associated with said base at the underside thereof and adapted to slide longitudinally thereof .and to trim said edges, said rotatable cutting means including a serrated cutting edge.

ROBERT ALONZO WILLIAMS. 

